Here is the link to many pictures from the 2011 Canadian Closed Championship.
GM Bator Sambuev and IM Eric Hansen tied for top spot in the Canadian Closed & Zonal held in Guelph, Ontario from May 6th through May 10th. A total of 29 players were registered and competed for a spot in the next World Cup as well as a spot on the next Canadian Olympic team.
Bator and Eric finished the event with identical undefeated scores of 7.5/9 (+6 =3) and a Rapid play-off was held to see who would be the Canadian Champion. Before the play-off, it was decided that Eric would represent Canada at the World Cup as Bator would not be able to due to the fact that the fee to change his federation has yet to be paid (Bator moved to Canada from Russia). The play-off would then determine who would win the title and earn a spot on the Olympic team. In the first game, Eric had white, built up a big advantage only to let it slip away. Bator held on to draw. In the 2nd game, Bator, with white, got an early advantage after Eric played a poor opening and forced Hansen to resign on move 39. Bator is the new Canadian Champion and gets a spot in the Olympics.
Report by Tony Ficzere
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
This is a very one-sided report, presenting only the claims made by Eric Hansen and his friends, according to whom Hansen should be given the right to go to the World Cup because Sambuev gave it up.
In reply to Hansen’s claim, Bator Sambuev has clearly stated on the Chess Talk forum that he never gave up the right to go to the World Cup, and that Chess Federation of Canada officials promised him to do what they could to help him. Unlike Tony Ficzere’s claim that Sambuev cannot go because the transfer fee of 5000 euros has not yet been paid, this fee can in fact still be paid in time to ensure Sambuev’s eligibility for the World Cup.
The Chess Federation of Canada is still reviewing the matter, and nothing has been decided yet.
He was robbed.
Hansen was robbed.
Bator did give up the right to go to the World Cup when he made the verbal agreement with International Arbiter Hal Bond and Eric Hansen before the playoff games. End of story.
the first anonymous is simply a Russian chess nuthugger who cannot stand a native Canadian challenging and defeating the Eastern Canadian players and chess immigrants.
The irrationality shown by Anonymous at Friday, May 13, 2011 4:48:00 PM CDT (“Hansen was robbed”; what has Hansen been “robbed” of?), the arrogance manifested by Anonymous at Friday, May 13, 2011 7:52:00 PM CDT (“End of story”), and the racism of Anonymous at Friday, May 13, 2011 7:53:00 PM CDT (“Russian chess nuthugger”) do not give a good impression of Hansen’s supporters.
To be robbed you should have something. Hansen lost. End of story.